Comics and videogames, the two are as synonymous with Nerd culture as peanut butter and jelly is to Lunchtime, in that they are two great tastes that can be enjoyed in any number of different ways! The two are a means for the consumer to escape from a boring reality. There we can pass through warp tunnels and cut the bridge with hopes that the Princess isn’t in another castle or fly through the sky, faster than a speeding bullet to save that sassy news reporter with the attraction to high places and poor balance. They’re a way to escape from the mundane and enter a brand new world. It’s through these bright and colorful worlds that RAW artist, AKA The Tiny Hobo, draws inspiration for her adorably nerdy works. I had the chance to sit down and chat with her about that as well as the genesis behind the name “The Tiny Hobo”.
“Comics, anime and manga all inspire me, but the biggest inspiration on my art has to be video games; the graphics, the story and worlds, everything about them is just so colorful and happy.” This is clearly portrayed through her use of bright vibrant colors and stylized figures. “When it comes to the actual creation of the work I start out with an idea, not so much an emotion, but it starts as an image in my head that evolves from there.”
“I wanted to be a hobo, and just ride the rails; I saw it as a kind of freedom from the world.” It’s by this philosophy of positive energy that Valerie lives her life by. When she’s not creating these gorgeous works of art she can usually be found playing her banjo, drinking tea or acting as a positive influence on her community and world around her.
This freedom of spirit can be clearly found in each of her pieces as they float freely in vibrantly colored background and in the case of some, disobey the laws of borders, and break free. These mandalas of pattern though can help to tell a little about a particular piece though, created through the use of turns of phrase, descriptive images or just playful patterns these borders are just as important as the images themselves. They lend themselves back to the figures and could be used to tell a colorful story of a man whose love is the sea or the fact that “Nerds Never Die”. Each one, as this viewer sees it, is an expression of the many different characters that exist in our lives with each one dealing in a different way to how we relate to ourselves.
You can find out more about Valerie’s work through her Facebook page, which can be found at https://www.facebook.com/ValerieTheTinyHobo while you’re there be sure to check out her blog, Flicker and Tumblr accounts.
Be sure to check out all the other RAW artists at our new location, the New Haven Russian Lady. Next month, come and be a part of our next showcase “Expressions” on Wednesday May 29th. Doors open at 8 and remain so till midnight, for tickets, information about our artists and more about RAW can be found at http://www.rawartists.org/hartford
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